Graphic Novel for Multiple Literacy

Schwarz, Gretchen. “Graphic Novel for Multiple Literacy.” Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy. 46(2002) 262-265

Though this critique is short, it is concise and to the point, it manages to get its point about the graphic novel very clearly.  Gretchen Swartz explains why the graphic novel is a useful tool for understanding cultures in literature.  She argues that graphic novels can open students to canons of literature that they did no know existed.  She also dismisses the speculation that the artwork scene in the comic book overshadows the text and the message.  This publication is an excellent piece for anyone interested in the graphic novel as a learning tool.

This article explains why the graphical novel can be significant when it comes to studying and understanding cultural rhetoric.  She defends the assertion that the graphic novel is a viable source of rhetorical information and should be applied as a pedagogical tool.  Schwarz’s article is good for ethos, her conviction in the usefulness of the graphic novel is far more adamant than any other article I have come across.

Comic Book Nation

Wright, Bradford. Comic Book Nation: The Transformation of Youth Culture in America. The John Hopkins University Press. (2003)

Focusing on the golden age of comics, Bradford gives an excellent description and synopsis of comics at that time.  Starting in 1939, he discusses how America’s conflicting political positions can be seen within the texts of Superman and how the impact of the Korean War affected comic books in the 1950s.  Wright’s work is the ideal text for exploring how political issues within America have affected the graphic novel and where it is today.

Because this text specifically focuses on the golden age of comic books it shows the close relation between comic book rhetoric and World War 2.  However, out of all of my research, this piece is the most informative piece that explains how comic books has directly influenced and reflects the attitude of the youth.  More than any other source, it explain why we see the significant changes in comic book characters, as well as their language.  Wright’s text is by far the most useful resource that I have come accross and confirms my beliefs in the relevancy and usefulness of the graphic novel.

Conclusion

According to my research, there are valid reasons to use graphic novels in order to study and teach rhetoric.  My resources give convincing arguements explaining the importance of the graphic novel when studying cultures and their rhetoric.  The comic book is a direct reflection of the culture at that point of time.  The super hero encompasses and internalizes the beliefs  of a society at that time and expresses them through visual and dialectic rhetoric.  The department of rhetoric she begin to recognize and use the graphic novel in order to study modern rhetoric as well as the contemporary history of rhetoric.

Furthermore, the graphic novel should be used as a pedogogical tool within the classroom.  Not only for rhetoric, but it could be used to understand the culture of a nation, psychology, and to improve literacy.  My research has shown me that the graphic novel has proven to be dependable tool in the classroom.  Students respond to to this method because it is more engaging than a textbook and and excellent way to understand dialect.

Accepting the graphic novel as a pedogogical tool would be an advancement for rhetoric and education in general.  The department of rhetoric is strugglin to stay relevant in today’s society because it refuses to break out of it’s traditional roles.  By encompasing the graphic novel and other forms of mediums into our studies, rhetoric may finally be considered relevant in today’s society.